Former inspector-general of police Hanif Omar said that if there are financial constraints for an immediate across-the-board increase for the entire police force, there can be a differentiation between police officers who do real policing work and are in the front-line to fight and reduce crime and those who are doing paper work. Police officers who are not doing real policing work will be paid less than those who are out there risking their lives.

It is a shame that there are police officers who are paid a mere RM680 making them fall under the hardcore poor category. The cabinet has reportedly declined the police request for a salary increase because this would take away from the national development funds.

Yet, we talk about spending money on a sports facility in the United Kingdom. Is this what is meant by national infrastructure development? I think there is a slight misalignment of priorities by our cabinet.

I think I and most Malaysians would rather see an effective police force who need not survive on ill-gotten gains for their livelihood because the salary they receive from the government is peanuts, instead of the badly needed funds going to 10 national sportsmen.